Violent assault boyfriend was ‘kind and generous’

A MAN who carried out a brutal assault on his girlfriend has been jailed – despite an impassioned plea from his victim.

Bernadette Adams stood before magistrates and said she would feel guilty if her partner, Alexander Durance, of Wyllie Mews, Burton, was sent to prison for the attack in which he punched her in the head, held her around the throat and kicked her as she lay on the ground.

Ms Adams told Burton Magistrates’ Court that she had ‘had time to reflect’ since making her statement to police following the incident on January 14.

Durance, 30, was described as kind, funny and generous, but magistrates heard it was not the first time he had been violent towards his girlfriend.

Sam Frazer, prosecuting, said tensions had built up between the pair on a night out after which Ms Adams accused Durance of cheating before throwing a sieve at him, drawing blood from his head.

It was then that he launched the attack.

Ms Frazer said: “He put his hands against her throat and threw her against the wall. She could feel the pressure against her neck and was struggling to breathe. She managed to push him off and said she remembers him backhanding the right side of her face and kicked her while down on the right thigh.

“He threw her against the wall again and she said she remembers being punched in the head.”

Despite the severity of the attack, Ms Adams stood before the court to mitigate for her boyfriend.

She said: “I have known Alex for eight years and he has been a big support to me with my issues. He is a kind, funny and generous man, but he is a human being and didn’t mean to do it. I wonder if he could receive some support rather than go to prison? I would feel guilty if Alex is sent to prison.”

Despite the plea, Durance, who pleaded guilty to assault, was jailed for 20 weeks.